Charles III officially became the King of the United Kingdom after his coronation on May 6, 2023. He is the oldest person to accede to the British throne at age 73. With both of his parents living into their late 90s, he could very well be king for a few decades, but who’s in line for the throne after that?
With a recent change to the rules of succession, any royal baby born after the date of March 26, 2015, gets a fair shot, instead of it previously going to male preference — which is exciting news for Princess Charlotte, Princess Lilibet and any other royal baby girls born in the future.
As we take a look at the current list of succession, let’s reminisce about how all of the royals got their start — and check out some very cute baby photos in the process.
1. Charles III (b. 1948)
Prince Charles of Edinburgh, left, takes the proceedings seriously as he and his smiling mother, Princess Elizabeth, pose for their first informal pictures in Buckingham Palace on April 10, 1949, in London. AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Charles Philip Arthur George
Parents: Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Birth Date: Nov. 14, 1948
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 6 ounces
Birthplace: Buckingham Palace, London
When the Prince of Wales was born in 1948, it definitely wasn’t the norm for dads to be in the delivery room, and certainly not royal ones. So, Princess Elizabeth, who was only 22 at the time, had to endure 30 hours of labor without her husband by her side.
Meanwhile, Prince Philip passed the time on far more leisurely pursuits, and was reportedly playing squash with his private secretary when Charles was finally delivered by C-section. When he met his son, Philip declared that he looked like a “plum pudding.”
Interesting fact: Princess Elizabeth delivered Charles at home, which was the norm for royalty until Princess Anne and Princess Diana opted to go the hospital route.
2. William, Prince of Wales (b. 1982)
Britain’s Prince William, the 6-month old son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, sits on his mother’s knee during a special picture call at Kensington Palace in London on Dec. 22, 1982. David Caulkin / Pool / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: William Arthur Philip Louis
Parents: Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
Birth Date: June 21, 1982
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 1.5 ounces
Birthplace: Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London
Unlike his own father, Charles was in the delivery room at St Mary’s Hospital Lindo Wing when Prince William was born.
When Charles, Diana and baby William stopped on the steps of the Lindo Wing for photographs, Charles was told that the crowd had been chanting, “Nice one Charlie, let’s have another one.” To this he laughed, and said, “Bloody hell, give us a chance.”
3. Prince George of Wales (b. 2013)
The Duchess of Cambridge and Duke of Cambridge carry the Prince of Cambridge outside for the first time to the awaiting media at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London, on July 23, 2013. Joel Ryan / Invision / AP
FAST FACTS
Full Name: George Alexander Louis
Parents: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Birth Date: July 22, 2013
Birth Weight: 8 pounds, 6 ounces
Birthplace: Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London
Anyone who’s been through labor will know how exhausting it is. Moms-to-be need all the energy they can get and, for Kate Middleton, that reportedly came in the form of pizza.
After being in labor with Prince George for 11 hours, she asked her security detail to pop around the corner from the hospital to pick up a slice or two.
4. Princess Charlotte of Wales (b. 2015)
Britain’s Princess Charlotte is pushed in a pram after her christening at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, on July 5, 2015. Chris Jackson / Pool Photo via AP
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
Parents: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Birth Date: May 2, 2015
Birth Weight: 8 pounds, 3 ounces
Birthplace: Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London
Since she was born in 2015, Princess Charlotte has given observers some of the cutest — and funniest — royal moments. She’s also confirmed that all kids are the same at heart, regardless of their heritage: They don’t like it when things don’t go their way.
One of Charlotte’s tantrums went viral when she was photographed stamping her feet on the tarmac during her parents’ official tour of Poland and Germany in 2017.
5. Prince Louis of Wales (b. 2018)
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, carries Prince Louis as they arrive for his christening service at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in London, on July 9, 2018. Dominic Lipinski / Pool Photo via AP
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Louis Arthur Charles
Parents: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Birth Date: April 23, 2018
Birth Weight: 8 pounds, 7 ounces
Birthplace: Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London
At the tender age of four months, Prince Louis managed to steal the show at a family portrait session in honor of Prince Charles’ 70th birthday. The tot reached out to play with his grandfather’s face — a move that had the whole group, including his uncle Prince Harry and aunt Meghan Markle, giggling.
Another image, taken by renowned photographer Chris Jackson, captured Grandpa Wales laughing with Prince Louis in his arms.
6. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (b. 1984)
The Princess of Wales holds son Prince Harry while royal families posed for photographers at the Royal Palace in Majorca, Spain, on Aug. 9, 1987. John Redman / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Henry Charles Albert David
Parents: Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
Birth Date: Sept. 15, 1984
Birth Weight: 6 pounds, 14 ounces
Birthplace: Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London
Prince Harry was only 13 years old when his mother, Princess Diana, died after a car crash in Paris. They had a strong bond, with Diana embracing her youngest son’s mischievous side.
According to a former royal chef Carolyn Robb, Diana once let Harry have treacle tarts for breakfast, giving him a handwritten note to hand to Robb that said, “Mummy says it’s OK!”
7. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2019)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Duchess Meghan, Duchess of Sussex stand with their baby son, who was born on May 6, 2019, at a photo call in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. KGC-375 / STAR MAX / IPx / STRMX2
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
Parents: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Birth Date: May 6, 2019
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 3 ounces
Birthplace: Portland Hospital, London
Born approximately one week after his due date, Archie is a royal baby that holds many first. He is the first biracial royal family member as well as the first one to have dual citizenship.
Because Duchess Meghan is American, he was also the first British royal family member to be raised with much more American influence, having moved to Southern California with his parents in 2020.
8. Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2021)
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor / Facebook
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
Parents: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Birth Date: June 4, 2021
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 11 ounces
Birthplace: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, California
Named after her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Lilibet was the first great-grandchild of the queen to be born outside of the United Kingdom.
While it is unlikely that she will use a title as long as she’s living in the U.S., Lilibet, or Lili, would be entitled to the courtesy title “Lady” and could become a princess if Charles decided to make her one.
9. Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960)
Alert Prince Andrew sits up in his carriage as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, smiles down at him, when the baby prince was nearing his seventh-month birthday on Sept. 13, 1960. AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Andrew Albert Christian Edward
Parents: Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Birth Date: Feb. 19, 1960
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 3 ounces
Birthplace: Buckingham Palace, London
Prince Charles was 11 years old when his brother Prince Andrew was born, In a letter to her midwife, the Queen revealed that Charles was “very excited” about the birth, because he “loves small children.”
She also shared that she and Prince Philip were “so very much out of the baby world” (Anne was also nine when Andrew was born). However, she wrote that “it is lovely to feel there will soon be another baby in the nursery.”
10. Princess Beatrice of York (b. 1988)
Britain’s Duchess of York, left, holds her daughter, Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, after the child’s christening in the Chapel Royal at London’s St. James’s Palace, while the Duke of York holds Beatrice’s hand on Dec. 20, 1988. Peter Kemp / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Beatrice Elizabeth Mary
Parents: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York
Birth Date: Aug. 8, 1988
Birth Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces
Birthplace: The Portland Hospital for Women and Children, London
Princess Beatrice was named after Queen Victoria’s youngest child (she had nine in total), who was also her closest companion in her later years and editor of her personal diaries.
In 1989, when Beatrice was 1 year old, a sweet picture of her older cousin Prince William pushing her in a large pram was made public.
11. Princess Eugenie of York (b. 1990)
Britain’s Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, walks with daughter Eugenie Victoria Helena, who was christened at the Church of St. Mary Magdelen in Sandringham, England on Dec. 23, 1990. Bill Allen / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Eugenie Victoria Helena
Parents: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York
Birth Date: March 23, 1990
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 1.5 ounces
Birthplace: The Portland Hospital for Women and Children, London
Princess Eugenie and her older sister Princess Beatrice are well known for their love of unusual hats, and it appears this started at a young age.
Wishing her Instagram followers a Happy Easter in 2018, Eugenie posted a photo of the two sisters as young girls in cute bonnets, with the caption, “Happy Easter from the York sisters! Celebrating Easter in a bonnet since 1992…”
Interesting fact: 9-month-old Princess Eugenie became the first member of the royal family to be baptized at a public service.
12. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1964)
Queen Elizabeth II, with sons, Prince Edward, 9 months, and Prince Andrew, leave Liverpool street railway station in London on Dec. 30, 1964, bound for Sandringham, Norfolk, for a visit. Laurence Harris / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Edward Antony Richard Louis
Parents: Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Birth Date: March 10, 1964
Birth Weight: 5 pounds, 7 ounces
Birthplace: Buckingham Palace, London
While Queen Elizabeth was often absent during Prince Charles and Princess Anne’s early years (she famously left them in the care of nannies for six months when she and Prince Philip spent time touring the Commonwealth), she was more present when Prince Andrew and Prince Edward were babies.
She is said to have had a particularly strong bond with her youngest child.
13. James, Duke of Edinburgh (b. 2007)
The Countess of Wessex, left, with her son James and daughter Louise leave after visiting her father-in-law Prince Philip who is at the King Edward VII hospital in London, on June 5, 2012. Max Nash / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: James Alexander Philip Theo
Parents: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Birth Date: Dec. 17, 2007
Birth Weight: 6 pounds, 2 ounces
Birthplace: Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, England
When the James Viscount Severn was born, his father, Prince Edward, described him as “rather small, very cute and very cuddly.”
Edward also revealed that part of their strategy for picking a baby name was not to make any hasty decisions: “You have to at least get to know the small person who’s just come into the world before you actually try and pick a name.”
14. Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003)
The new born baby of The Earl and Countess of Wessex as she leaves Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, England, on Nov. 23, 2003. Stephen Hird / AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary
Parents: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Birth Date: Nov. 8, 2003
Birth Weight: 4 pounds, 9 ounces
Birthplace: Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, England
James’ older sister, Louise, made a rather dramatic entrance into the world. She was born four weeks premature by emergency C-section in 2003 and taken to the neonatal unit of St George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, for special care.
Prince Edward missed the birth, as he was on a state visit to Mauritius, but flew home immediately to be with his wife and daughter — what he later described as “quite an emotional moment.” When baby Louise was eventually discharged from the hospital, Sophie called it “the best day ever.”
15. Anne, Princess Royal (b. 1950)
This is an Oct. 21, 1950, file photo of Queen Mary, left, as she touches the ear of her great-granddaughter, Princess Anne, held by her mother, Princess Elizabeth, when the infant princess was christened at Buckingham Palace in London. AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise
Parents: Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Birth Date: Aug. 15, 1950
Birth Weight: 6 pounds
Birthplace: Clarence House
Queen Elizabeth gave birth to all four of her children at home, but Princess Anne wasn’t born at Buckingham Palace like her brothers. At the time of Princess Anne’s birth in August 1950, Buckingham Palace was being renovated after suffering damage during World War II.
The Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and Prince Philip lived in Clarence House, a royal residence in London from 1949 to 1953, and it was there that Anne was born. After Anne was born, Philip reportedly told everyone: “It’s the sweetest girl.”
16. Peter Phillips (b. 1977)
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne poses with her husband, Captain Mark Phillips, and their son Peter in England in July 1980. AP Photo
FAST FACTS
Full Name: Peter Mark Andrew Phillips
Parents: Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips
Birth Date: Nov. 15, 1977
Birth Weight: 7 pounds, 9 ounces
Birthplace: St Mary’s Hospital, London
The monarch has the power to make children an “Earl” or a “Lady,” and they can also give them HRH status, which makes them a Prince or Princess.
However, Princess Anne and Captain Phillips turned down an offer of title from the Queen, which would have allowed their children to be born into the peerage because they wanted them to have a more normal life. Peter was the first royal baby to be born “a commoner” for more than 500 years.
